Method of cleaning and brightening leath er su rfaces



(No Model.)

W. A. KNIPE.

METHOD OF CLEANING AND BRIGHTENING LEATHER SURFACES. No. 320,259.

Patented June 16, 1885.

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NITED STATES ATENT XVILLIAM A. KNIFE, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

FJFECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,259, dated June 16, 1885.

Application filed September 1, 1894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM A. KNIFE, of IIa-verhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improve ments in Method of Cleaning and Brightening Leather Surfaces, of which the following is a speci fi cation.

This invention has for its object. to provide an improved method for cleaning and imparting a fresh and lustrous appearance to the external surfaces of boots and shoes and other manufactured articles of leather, or to finished leather before it is made into articles of manufacture.

Leather used in the manufacture of boots and shoes is liable to become tarnished or to acquire a dull appearance by the manipulation it receives from the operators, the perspiration from the hands of the operators tarnishing some kinds of leather to a considerable extent, so that the goods do not present that fresh and clean appearance which is desirable.

My invention consists in moistening the external surface of the leather and then immediately subjecting it to theaction of a rapidlyrotating wheel or brush of textile material, which acts to rapidly dry the leather and impart to it a fresh and bright appearance, as I will now proceed to describe.

The accompanying drawing represents a shoe being subjected to the action of the rotary wheel or brush.

In carrying out my invention I moisten the surface of a boot or shoe or other article of leather, and then, while it is in a damp state, present it to a rapidl y-rotatin g wheel or brush, composed of fibers of cotton, wool, or other textile material, secured radially to a suitable head or arbor, the ends of the textile fibers acting on the leather. The rapidly-moving text- (Xo specimens.)

ile fibers act to dry the leather rapidly, remove all finger-marks therefrom, and give it afresh, bright surface, which greatly improves its appearance.

The brush or wheel employed is preferably constructed as described in my application for Letters Patent for polishingwheel filed herewith. The wheel rotates at so high a rate of speed that it dries the leather almost instantaneously, so that the process is very rapid.

I-Ieretofore the only method of removing from boots and shoes the tarnished and dull appearance caused by manipulation during the manufacture has been by means of a cloth rubbed on the moistened surface by hand; but

this method is so slow and tediousthat it cannot be extensively employed. I find that text ile material in independent radiating fibers is the only material that can be successfully used to accomplish the results above described, its softness and capability of rapidly absorbing the moisture being essential factors not possessed by bristles, which are usually employed for brush material.

I claim- The described method of cleaning and brighteningleather surfaces, which consists in moist ening the same and, while still moist, presenting the same to the ends of absorbent textile fibers borne 011 a rapid] yrotatin g wheel, whereby the moisture is absorbed and the surface simultaneously brightened, as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subseribi ng witnesses, this 28th day of August, 1884.

\VILLIAM A. KNIPE.

\Vi tnesses:

WILLIAM H. MOODY, JOHN T. MINI'rER. 

